Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDP14206’

ABSTRACT

A new  Dianthus  plant particularly distinguished by having double flowers with a dark pink, purple bicolor, and an upright plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDP14206’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDP14206’. ‘KLEDP14206’ originated from a branch mutation of the proprietary female parent ‘DCP 2009-1003’ (unpatented) in May 2010 in a greenhouse in Latina, Italy.

In 2010 ‘KLEDP14206’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEDP14206’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany via stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Double flowers with a dark pink, purple bicolor; and     -   2. An upright plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

The photograph shows the overall plant habit of the plant. The plant is about 5 months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2012.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDP14206’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on five month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in February 2014. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Species.—Dianthus caryophyllus.         -   Common name.—Pot carnation.         -   Variety.—‘KLEDP14206’. -   Parentage: Result of a mutation of the proprietary Dianthus plant     ‘DCP 2009 1003’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—14 to 16 days.         -   Root description.—White, fine.         -   Rooting habit.—Lanceolate. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Potted plant, upright.         -   Plant height.—13.0 cm to 15.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   General description.—Stem is solid.         -   Length.—8.0 to 10.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—3.0 to 5.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.6 cm to 0.8 cm.         -   Number of internodes per stem.—Four.         -   Node length.—0.3 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS N137B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—4.0 to 6.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.6 cm to 0.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Immature leaves: Upper surface: RHS 138A. Lower             surface: RHS 147B. Mature leaves: Upper surfaces: RHS N139A.             Lower surface: RHS N137A. Venation: RHS N139A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Double, round, small sprays.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to Fall.         -   Flower longevity.—10 to 12 days.         -   Number of flowers per spray.—3-5.         -   Flowers in relation with the foliage.—Slightly above.         -   Flower buds.—Length: 1.8 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.8 to             1.0 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 145A, RHS 144A and RHS             183A. Extrusion of the styles at bud stage: Absent.         -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals/arrangement: 15 to 20, arranged             in several whorls. Corolla height: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Petal             length: 3.5 cm. Petal width: 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm. Petal shape:             Spoon-shaped. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal base: Acute. Petal             margin: Crenate. Depth of petal margin: Medium. Petal             texture: Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Petal color:             Immature: Upper surface: RHS 53A is the base color and RHS             61C is the secondary color along the margin. Lower surface:             RHS 63B and RHS 56A. Mature: Upper surface: RHS 59A and RHS             67C. Lower surface: RHS 56B and RHS 70C. Calyx: Quantity of             sepals/arrangement: 5, fused. Calyx height: 1.8 cm to             2.0 cm. Calyx diameter, at the apex: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Calyx             shape: Campanulate. Epicalyx: Position of outer lobes in             relation to calyx: Adpressed. Outer and inner lobes apex             shape: Acute. Epicalyx length: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Sepal             texture: Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Sepal apex shape:             Campanulate. Sepal color: Upper surface: RHS N137C. Lower             surface: RHS 145B. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—12.0 to 14.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 137A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 3 to 5. Filament length: 0.5 cm to             0.7 cm. Filament color: RHS 155B. Anther length: 0.1 cm.             Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 19B. Pollen             amount: Sparse.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Pistil length: 0.1 cm. Style length:             1.6 cm to 1.8 cm. Style color: RHS 59A. Number of styles per             pistil: 1. Stigma shape: Filamentous. Stigma color: RHS 59A.             Ovary size: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Ovary shape: Oval. Overall             Ovary color: RHS 145A. Ovary texture: Smooth. Fruits/seeds:             None observed. -   Disease and insect/pest resistance: No special observations were     made.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDP14206’ is a distinct variety of Dianthus. ‘KLEDP14206’ is distinguished from its parent as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Trait ‘KLEDP14206’ Parent Flower Color Dark pink, purple bicolor Pink, purple eye

‘KLEDP14206’ is most similar to the commercial Dianthus plant named commercially known as SuperTrouper ‘Oscar’ (unpatented). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait ‘KLEDP14206’ SuperTrouper ‘Oscar’ Flower Color Dark pink, purple bicolor Dark pink with a purple eye 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDP14206’ as illustrated and described herein. 